Health news and facts compiled by the Meriden Public Library July 2019

Health Beat

Always stretch before exercise.

Don’t slouch when standing or sitting.

Make sure work surfaces are at a comfortable height.

Sit in a chair with good lumbar support and proper position and height. Periodically walk around or gently stretch muscles. During long periods of sitting, ele-vate feet on a low stool or a stack of books.

Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.

Sleep on one’s side with the knees drawn up in a fetal position to help open up the joints in the spine and relieve pressure.

Don’t try to lift objects that are too heavy. Lift from the knees, pull the stomach muscles in, and keep the head down and in line with a straight back.

Maintain proper nutrition and diet to reduce and prevent excessive weight gain.

— National Institute of

Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Eight Ways To A Healthy Back

I f you've ever groaned, "Oh, my aching back!", you are not alone.

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts more than three months. Most back pain goes away on its own, though it may take awhile. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers — such as ibuprofen or naproxen — for a week or two and resting can help. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse. If your back pain is severe or doesn't improve after three days, you should call your health care provider. You should also get medical attention if you have back pain following an injury. Treatment for back pain depends on what kind of pain you have, and what is causing it. It may include hot or cold

packs, exercise, medicines, injections, complementary treatments and sometimes — when all else fails — surgery. Some of the nontraditional alternatives include:

Yoga and tai chi to strength-en core muscles and relieve pressure on the back

Acupuncture

Mindfulness-based stress reduction focusing on aware-ness and acceptance of pain or cognitive behavioral therapy focusing on getting around negative thought patterns.

— National Institute of Health: National Institute of Arthritis and

Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Oh, My Aching Back!

Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller St., Meriden, CT 06450 Phone: 203-238-2346 www.meridenlibrary.org

These health-related books can be found in the “New Books” area:

New Books at the Meriden Public Library

No Visible Bruises: What We Don't Know

About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us by

Rachel Louise Snyder, 362.82 SN

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A

Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our

Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb, 616.89 Go

Did You Just Eat That?:

Two Scientists Explore Double-Dipping, the

Five-Second Rule, and Other Food Myths in the

Lab by Paul Dawson and Brian Sheldon, 579.16 DA

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle

by Emily Nagoski, and Amelia Nagoski, 155.9042 NA

The Art of Dying Well: A

Practical Guide to a Good End of Life by Katy Butler,

616.029 BU

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A

Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving

Your Goals by Rachel Hollis, 158.1HO

Don't Just Sit There!: 44 Insights To Get Your

Meditation Practice Off the Cushion and Into the Real

World by Biet Simkin, 158.12 SI

The Ultimate Guide to Chakras: The Beginner's

Guide to Balancing, Healing, and Unblocking

Your Chakras for Health and Positive Energy

by Athena Perrakis, 615.852 PE